51 Pro Football Hall of Famers from small schools

There have been a number of players from small schools that have gone on to careers as Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Charlie Joiner

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Charlie Joiner is another Hall of Famer who went to Grambling. The Houston Oilers targeted Joiner for the defensive backfield when they picked the 5-11, 180-pounder in the fourth round of the 1969 AFL-NFL Draft. In his fourth season in 1972, Houston sent him to the Cincinnati Bengals in a four-player swap. Four years later in 1976, he was traded to San Diego. With the Chargers, Joiner blossomed into super-stardom. He and quarterback Dan Fouts formed a lethal pass-catch team that accounted for the preponderance of his 586 receptions as a Charger. During his 11 years in San Diego, Joiner caught 50 or more passes seven times and had 70 or more receptions three seasons.